Impulse buys

VfM4meplse

In 2018, Brits were said to make and average off 9 impulse purchases every month, at a cost of £200 per month (study by jamjar.com, but I got the data from The Infographics Show).

Now I consider myself to be a savvy spender, but I think my [STRIKE]impulse[/STRIKE] unplanned buys probably total more than 9 per month, but the cost will usually be £20-50 per month thanks to my chazzer finds and predilection of scouring Poundland - which I love, but don't cost me the earth. Am I abnormally thrifty, I wonder?

pattypan4

Bit unusual this month because of the sales. I spend a lot on impulse buys but they are always things I use. £200+ a month I would say. I like shops like lakeland and john lewis and harts of stur, I bought a crockery set there this week and loads of yarn in john lewis last week.

gt568

I wouldn't say so.


There is no way I am spending 200 sheets on impulse buys PCM.

GreyQueen

Probably about average for the MSE cohort. I've made one impulse buy thus far this year - £1 for an enamel mug from a chazzer today. Adding another one to the kitchen - they double as camping kit - was part of a cunning plan, so not sure if this would be impulse purchasing or opportunistic planned purchasing.

maman

I think it depends on how you define impulse buys and also your circumstances.

MSE people would probably go for impulse buys of things they knew would save them money in the long run like YS store cupboard items or things they could freeze. This, of course, would depend on whether you had the money up front to be able to do this. Some people sadly don't'. I know there's an old lady (forget the name) who posts on OS who keeps separate purses for her usual monthly groceries and then extra spends. She remembers rationing in the war so it's understandable.

Then there are the more extravagant impulse buys which are more like retail therapy. Not very mse at all. :(

ETA: I just remembered an impulse buy. I bought a flying pig for 50p in Poundland. I love it!:D

Pollyflinders

I had the ultimate impulse buy in December- a new car.

There's a new model Corsa out, so all the old models have been upgraded and pre-registered. I bought one!

VfM4meplse

maman wrote: »

people would probably go for impulse buys of things they knew would save them money in the long run like YS store cupboard items or things they could freeze.

GreyQueen wrote: »

opportunistic planned purchasing.

That fits much of what I buy, its stuff I fancy having if the price is right, and often already P'inned so it sticks in my mind.

maman wrote: »

I know there's an old lady (forget the name) who posts on OS who keeps separate purses for her usual monthly groceries and then extra spends. She remembers rationing in the war so it's understandable.

That would be our JackieO

VfM4meplse

Pollyflinders wrote: »

I had the ultimate impulse buy in December- a new car.

There's a new model Corsa out, so all the old models have been upgraded and pre-registered. I bought one!

It's probably your type of profligacy that has brought the average up to £200 pm!

Tigsteroonie

I prefer the definition of an opportunistic planned purchase. It's rare that I make a completely impulse purchase; normally it's something I was going to buy at some point, even if that is future Christmas decorations or gifts.

calicocat

I do it, not to the tune of £200 a month though.

I have just spent 6 months part time to give myself a break, and it was refreshing to stop buying and spending my time in shops.

Having said that now that I am coming to the end of part time hours and have managed to keep things in good order financially.....so its like I owed it to myself to go and do exactly that.....so bought a coat in the sales yesterday. It is a sensible buy though as just a plain black classic style that should last years....part of my continuing the stop buying carp theme of last 6 months and buy classic not trendy items.

I have so many stupid clothes, so want to get a more capsule wardrobe going on instead of buy and wear twice.

I’m terrible for it....or used to be. But am homing in on my difficulties in this area.

This year I have bought 4 coats.........??
The sale classic one, good quality.
A charity shop bargain( classic style again).
Another cream classic one as a present from relative so not strictly my buy, but not brilliant quality so probably not going to last years.
And a crazy white fur one that I used over Xmas going out.......these are the spends I need to stop really. It will probably get worn 5 times then I will not like it anymore .

I only bought the one sale item this year though, and 2 packs of Laura Ashley cat Xmas cards reduced to £1.50. That is exceptional for me. Years ago I would spend hundreds in the sales convincing myself it was all brilliant bargains....so I am getting there slowly.

This year I am going to continue to cut out impulsive buying, I want my savings back up to where they were before having to buy a new car...and more.

DWhite

I think it’s depends what you count Asan impulse buy.
I go to the shop for groceries without a list and buy things I probably don’t *need* would they be impulse?
Last night I bought Maccy’s (food place) because I’d been in a car accident and had to spend my evening dealing with that, so on the way home from hospital in the early hours I bought food from there. That was definitely an impulse buy! But I eat there maybe twice a year. But would people count that as an impulse buy if they’re being surveyed?
(I’m fine, aches and sore but intact).